Antimarring means for picture frames



July 3,. 192s.

S. STERLING ANTIMARRING MEANS FOR PICTURE FRAMES Filed June 12, 1925gwoentov Sw/VE Y jrseu/ve Patented July 3, 1928.

,sinNEY surname, or Los ANoELEscALIroRNm.

ANTIMARBING MEANS FOR PICTURE FRAMES.

Application filed June 12, 1926 Serial No. 115,688. Y

My invention relates generally to picture frames and, the like and it isa purposeof my invention to provide extremely simple and inexpensivemeans associated with the picture frame for )reventing mar-ring of thewalls should theframe bemoved in cleaning or dusting. L

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of means preferablyassociated with the screw eyes on the frame for attaching the picturehanging wire or cord to the frame or with any other means on the frameto which picture hanging means is connected, the means being associatedwith the screw eyes in suchmanner that the latter will be prevented fromcontacting with thewall to the extent of marring the latter when theframe is moved in the cleaning or dusting thereof.

'1 will describe only one form of anti.- marring means for pictureframes and will point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure l is a view showing in end elevation a picture frame hung from awall with one form of anti-marring device embodying my invention appliedto its screw eyes;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1;

Figure?) is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the anti-marrin-g deviceembodying myinvention. v V

Referring specifically to the drawing, in which similar referencecharacters indicate similar parts in each of the several views, myinvention, in its present embodiment, is shown associated with theconventional form of screw eyes S threaded into the backof a pictureframe F, to which screw eyes is usually connected a picture hanging wireor cord P for hanging the frame from a hook H or other form ofsupportupon a wall W.

My invention in its resent embodiment comprises a body of so t orieldable material such as, for instance, fe t, in the form of arelatively thick disk 10 having an axial opening 11 extendingtherethrough and slit inwardly from its periphery in the plane of thedisk, as clearly shown at 12, in Figures 3 and 4 to provide a pocketadapted to receive the eye of the screw S. The slit in the disk ispreferably of such depth that the eye of the screw must be forced intothe material ofthe disk to bring its axial openmgll into registrationwith the opening in the eye so that a relatively large portion of theperiphery of the disk remains unbroken for engagement with-thewall W.

With the disk 10 applied to the screw eye, in this manner, a grommet orhollow rivet 13 is passed through the o enin s in the disk and eye andits ends t en Iiajred as at 14c to clampingly engage the opposite sidesof the disk and thus firmly secure the latter in covering relation tothe eye. In addition, the provision of the grommet 13 permits thepicture hanging Wire P to be threaded through the eye of the screw and.

then twisted upon itself in the usual manner to connect the wire to theeye.

Inoperation,-and with the picture frame F having my invention applied toits screw eyes, it will be clear that when the frame is hung upon thewall asshown in Figure l, the unbroken portion of the periphery of thedisks 1 0 will engage the wall instead ofthe metal eyes of the screwsSso that should the frame be moved such as when dusting or cleaning, thesoft surface of the disks will readily slide over the surface of thewall without marring or otherwise damaging the latter.

. It will be manifest that my invention can be quickly and easilyapplied to the conventional form of screw eye and but slightly increasethe cost of the latter, which cost is negligible as compared to thematerial advantage effected by its use in positively preventing damageto a wall, such as now occurs with the use of unprotected metal screweyes.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precisematerial specified as other materials can be used for the purposedescribed.

Although I have herein shown and de scribed only one form ofanti-marring means for picture frames embodying my invention, it is tobe understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit andscope of the a pended claims.

I c aim as my invention:

1. In combination, a screw eye, a body formed of soft material and slitto receive the eyeof the screw, said body having an opening adapted toregister with the opening in the eye when the body is applied to thelatter and a grommet extending through the opening and through the eyeof the screw.

the eye of the screw, said odyhaving an.

opening therethrough adapted to register with the opening in the eyewhen the body is applied to the latter, and a grommet extending throughthe openings in the body and eye for securing the body to the screw.

3. In combination, a screw eye, a diskshaped body formed of felt andhaving its periphery slit circumferentially in the plane of the body toform a pocket for receiving the eye ofthe screw, said body having anaxial opening extending therethrough adapted to register with theopening in the eye when the body is applied to the latter, and a grommetextending through the openings in the body and the eye and clampinglyengaging the opposite sides of the body for securing the latter to theeye.

4. As an article of manufacture, an antimarring device for 'pictureframes comprising a tubular body, formed of soft material and slit toreceive the eye of a screw in such manner that when applied to thescrew, the opening in the body will register with the openlng in theeye.

5. 'As an article of-manufacture, an antimarring device for pictureframes compristo be manner that when app ied'to the screw the opening inthe body will register with the opening in the eye, anda' grommetadapted V assed through the o nings in the eye an body for'securing t ebody to the screw. c V

6. As an article of manufacture, an antimarrinrr device for pictureframes comprisin a iskshaped tubular body formed of so 't material andhaving a peripheral slit in which the eye of a screw is adapted to bereceived with the opening in the eye registering with the opening in thebody.

' 7. In combination, a screw eye, a body formed of yieldable material incovering relation to t e eye of the screw, and means for securing thebody to the screw in a manner to permit a plicturehanging'wir to bethreaded throng the opening in the eye, said means comprising a grommetextending through the eye and body.

8. In combination, an eye screw, a body 1 formed of yieldable material,in covering relation to the eye of the screw, said body havin an openingtherethrough, and means for hdlding the body on the eye of the screw,with the opening in the body registering with the opening in the eye ofthe screw so as to permit a icture hanging wire to be threaded throughthe openings.

SIDNEY STERLING.

